Bones

Enjoy your interior skeleton keeping your brain safe. See your brains on Monday!

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Positive Encouragement

Parents, ever appreciate when a boss or co-worker tell you about a great job you did?

Students, is it nice to hear the teacher say some positive ideas about your work?

Keeping it positive keeps everyone encouraged and motivated. Love and Logic suggests to be encouraging without giving away answers, problem solving strategies, or the solution to a problem

See how you can give some one some "noggin" today!


The turtles are also a reference to the text for this week's story "Emerald's Eggs." A class looks for turtle eggs hatching on the beach while learning about different turtles.


Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.

Wordle

Have you made a Wordle before? You can type, copy and paste text, or paste in a website and the Wordle site will combine the words into a Wordle!

Later this year we will be taking student writing and pasting it into the Wordle program to see which words are repeated most often (the larger font on Wordle) and how much variety in vocabulary students are using.

The Wordle above is of our classroom blog from the last few weeks! See what I've been talking about the most? Hint...it has to do with reading, books, railroads, and some pesky crocodiles!


Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.

Encouraging Reading

Read! Read! Read!
Our class is participating in the book it program, our school's Accelerated Reader program, and our daily homework of reading 30 minutes each night.


Some nights are easier than others but here are some ideas about how to squeeze in some reading time without a fight.

• Make sure the book is on their level. Too easy is boring and they will quit, too hard and they're frustrated. AR levels at our library will help!
• Interesting books. Know what interests your child and encourage them to find books in that genre.
• Owning favorite books. Repetition is helpful to improve fluency and comprehension. Reread that favorite book again.
• Keep a supply on hand. Our school library paired with a home or public library selection should give your child several options when it comes to reading time.

When will we get all this reading done?

• While on the go. How much time is spent on a commute, running errands, driving to practice? Keep books in the car to always have one available. A milk crate or extra backpack of books will keep them safe.
• While waiting. Waiting for sister's soccer practice to be over, waiting at an appointment, waiting for dinner to be done. Reading while waiting fills in a wasted empty time and has a clear end mark - when dinner is ready!
• Evening routine. Every night after dinner set the timer for 30 minutes, read 30 minutes before bed time, 30 minutes before any TV time, 30 minutes while dinner is prepared. Have your child agree on a time and stick to it!

Keep it special

• 1 on 1 time. Spend time with your child individually as a special part of the day.

• Family book. Read a book together as a family and enjoy the exciting plot and adventure that many children's books have to offer.
• Location. Reading is much more enjoyable when you are comfortable. Find cozy places to encourage your child to read.

• Praise. Reading can be tough work. Giving your child verbal praise for their accomplishments.

• Rewards. Our goal is to have reading be a reward in itself. To help kids get there, programs like book it, lunch with the teacher, or rewards set up at home can help guide the way.

• Tracking progress. Keep a list of books read, hours read, minutes read, or something to help chart the progress your child is making.

• Ownership. Owning a book can be a meaningful connection to the characters, plot, and information in a book. Inexpensive ideas include thrift stores, garage sales, used book stores, Scholastic book clubs, or trading books with friends.

Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.

Pikes Peak Plants

Alpine Tundra plants

Montane Forest

Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pine

Clouds in the Montane Forest

Aspen in the lower forest region

Check Out more plants and animals in the Colorado Life Zones here.

Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Have you seen the note about Parent Teacher Conferences?

Have you sent it back?

Conferences are a critical time to communicate A LOT of information. Please double check your avaiability and confirm your conference time with me as soon as possible. If you have any special accomodations or questions ahead of time please let me know!

Here are some parent tips for making sure you get the most out of our conference!


Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.